Scary Statistics: 53% of Young Latinas Got Pregnant in Their Teens

The stereotype has always been there, but a recent study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy provided a hard number to the startling phenomenon of teen pregnancy in the American Latino communities: 53% of young Latina get pregnant in their teens, twice the national average:

In 2007, the birth rate among non-Hispanic whites ages 15 to 19 was 27.2 per 1,000, and 64.3 per 1,000 for non-Hispanic black teens in the same age range. The teen birth rate among Hispanic teens ages 15 to 19 was 81.7 per 1,000. [...]

Three-quarters of Latino teens said their parents have talked to them about sex and relationships, but only half said their parents discussed contraception.

The survey also found that:

• 74 percent of Latino teens believe that parents send one message about sex to their sons and a different message altogether to their daughters, possibly related to the Latino value of machismo.

• Latino teens believe that the most common reason teens do not use contraception is that they are afraid their parents might find out.

Moni Basu of CNN has more on the findings: Link


Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

Looking at this stat and the overall immigration situation, I think things are really going to come to a head in two to three decades. Huge swaths of this country are populated by people who can't speak the main language of this country...(English by the way!) Thanks to satellite tv, cable and 10,000 tv stations catering to every language group, a person can move to this country and never need to learn to speak or write English, increasing the chances of the eventual break up of this country. I can imagine a future where the country breaks up into three or even four semi-autonomous zones, which means that we will end up a third rate world power, because China, which by the way has survived being such a huge colossus because of their imposition of language acquisition on their people, will end up being the Hyper-power eventually.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Teenage pregnancy is just one of those great experiences that will allow these women to have the wisdom needed to make better decisions than white men. It has been proven that only minorities have experiences in life that give them experience.

And then, if lucky, be chosen based on gender and race and not merit, to legislate from the bench in the highest court of the United States.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
As a person of Latin American origin, I can attest that culture and religion influence the high pregnancy rates. However, I would say the biggest contributing factor is that the majority of Hispanic men are not taught that condoms are a pre-coital necessity, and a most Hispanic women are not taught to be assertive enough to demand them.

@ Madcap, bambinos are for Italian people, and grammas are for Americans. Hispanic women have "bebes", and a grandmother is an "abuela".
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
its a strange thing.
every girl in my family has had at least one kid before they turned 19.
i turned 19 last thursday.
no babies yet.
but i'm gay so that might have something to do with it.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"Scary Statistics: 53% of Young Latinas Got Pregnant in Their Teens"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More